Jürgen Melzer has reported fit. Together with Ofner, Novak, Oswald and Weissborn, the 36-year-old forms the Davis Cup team with which Captain Stefan Koubek would like to surprise in Russia.
After the 5:0 against Belarus in St. Pölten, the Austrian Davis Cup team will be forced to withdraw in the second round of the Europe/Africa Zone I on 6 March. and 7. April against Russia. If they win in Moscow, they will play in the relegation for promotion to the world group in September. A defeat would end the year for the national tennis team. In the direct duel between the two countries Russia leads 2:1, last Red-White-Red 2012 in Wiener Neustadt won in the first round of the world group 3:2, Jürgen Melzer (2) and Andreas Haider-Maurer won the points.
On Tuesday Stefan Koubek announced the squad. Due to the change of mode (two instead of three days, each match to only two winning sets) the captain was allowed to nominate five players, these are Sebastian Ofner, Dennis Novak, Jürgen Melzer as well as the double specialists Philipp Oswald and Tristan-Samuel Weissborn.
Seventh in the world rankings, Dominic Thiem had to pass because of his ankle injury. Gerald Melzer, who lived in St. Pölten had contributed two points on sand, but Andreas HaiderMaurer is also missing at his own request – both don’t pay off on hard court against the strong Russians. Australian Open Champion Oliver Marach cancelled for private reasons, Alexander Peya wants to concentrate on his double ranking.
Koubek sees his team as an outsider. Much will depend, however, on the occupation the Russians actually compete in (squad today from 4 p.m. under www.daviscup.com). After all, four players are in the top 100 in the world rankings. For comparison: Sebastian Ofner, Austria’s number 1, is currently 142. In addition, the 21-year-old Styrian has never competed in the Davis Cup before and has only won one match at ATPLevel this year.
“Sebastian’s been in the squad three times, knows the ropes. He’ll have to face the pressure on the ground. Last year in Wimbledon and Kitzbühel, where he beat top 20 players, he did an excellent job” Novak, 24, has a 2:2 record in the national team, winning St. Gallen. Dennis made a good start to the season, qualifying for the main competition in Australia. On the hard court it can hurt the Russians, especially because everything can go very quickly at the Best of-Three,” says Koubek.
Philipp Oswald is seeded in the doubles and Tristan-Samuel Weissborn will make his debut next to him. The 26-year-old Viennese has worked his way up to position 107 in the world.
Koubek is particularly pleased that the youngsters will be supported by Jürgen Melzer. The 36-year-old from Lower Austria, who played his last tournament match so far in the first qualifying round of Wimbledon at the beginning of July and had elbow surgery at the beginning of October, made his comeback at the Challenger in Marbella this week. The Austrian Davis Cup record player could be 73rd in Moscow. Match deny.
“Of course, you have to see how he feels, whether everything fits physically,” says Koubek, “he can help us with all his experience, with his huge fighting spirit, in singles and doubles” The Carinthian will closely examine Ofner, Novak and Melzer in training.
The new ÖTV President Werner Klausner hopes for a surprise in Moscow: “Russia is a top tennis nation and currently has four players in the top 100. Our, for the most part, very young team can gain an enormous amount of experience there. But in sport is very much possible, and the pressure of the favorite lies with Russia.”
ÖTV Managing Director Thomas Schweda will accompany the red and white delegation to Russia: “I would like the boys to take the hurdle and we can show ourselves again in September, preferably to our home audience when it comes to promotion to the world group. But the task in Moscow will be anything but easy.”